Jurgen Klopp has been left frustrated as a deal for Borussia Dortmund midfielder appears to be dead in the water, but the German has been in this situation before
In the aftermath of his team’s brave decision to release Jude Bellingham, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp stated that he does not “agree with everything” that FSG does.
The Reds have decided to withdraw from the race for the former Birmingham City player after being concerned about the price they could end up paying for him. While Klopp has insisted that he respects the club’s transfer policy, the German has made it clear that he is disappointed.
Liverpool’s midfield is in desperate need of reinforcements, and Bellingham would have been an ideal addition. It is not the first time Klopp has found himself at odds with FSG over transfers. Here are some previous examples of the manager and owners being on opposing sides.
Call Jude Bellingham
The Dortmund midfielder who inspired this piece is arguably one of the most exciting young players in world football. Since moving to Germany from Birmingham in the summer of 2020, the 19-year-old has shone in the Bundesliga while also making an impression for England on the international stage.
There were rumors that the Reds saw him as an ideal addition to their midfield, with supporters pointing to his close relationship with Trent Alexander-Arnold as proof that a move to Anfield was possible. Klopp has previously expressed his admiration for Bellingham.
He won’t be able to coach him in the near future, however, because the Reds dropped out of the race to sign him. With transfer funds limited, it was decided to focus on a more comprehensive rebuild with multiple signings.
Liverpool, did you make the right decision with Jude Bellingham? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Timo Werner’s hesitation
Timo Werner, from one Bundesliga talent to another, could have easily ended up as a Liverpool player before joining Chelsea. The Reds were frequently linked with the German forward, and it was reported that he had held talks with Klopp about a summer move to Merseyside.
He was clearly a fan of his compatriot, and Werner appeared to be an exciting addition to Liverpool’s attack heading into the 2020/21 season, fresh off a 34-goal season in Leipzig. The striker did sign a £47.5 million transfer to the Premier League, but not to Liverpool, with Chelsea signing him instead as Liverpool stalled on a deal, which was unsurprising given the financial impact of the Covid pandemic.
There’s no doubt that Klopp was interested in Werner at the time and would have signed him if FSG had made the funds available, but it wasn’t to be. At Stamford Bridge, it didn’t quite work out for the German international. He returned to Leipzig after scoring just ten Premier League goals in two seasons and appears to have found his mojo again in his homeland.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s departure
While Georginio Wijnaldum’s departure was not an incoming transfer, Klopp was disappointed. The Dutch midfielder had been a dependable keeper at Anfield during a period of tremendous success.
He helped Liverpool win the Champions League, Premier League, and other trophies. However, the Reds were unable to reach an agreement with the former Newcastle midfielder, and he will leave Anfield on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
Wijnaldum’s departure was the result of the strict wage policy implemented by FSG. Klopp had no choice but to let his vital midfield cog leave because he refused to match offers from other clubs.
Almost two years later, Liverpool has yet to replace Wijnaldum, who has since moved on loan to French giants PSG and Italian side AS Roma. It appears that no one benefited from the deal.
There was no signing of a midfielder.
In terms of midfield signings, Liverpool entered the current season in desperate need of new faces in the middle of the field. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Naby Keita all struggled with consistency at the start of the season, and a slew of players are set to leave the club in the summer as their contracts expire.
During the final weeks of last summer’s transfer window, Klopp stated that he wanted club executives to “take more risks” in the transfer market as the need for a new midfielder grew. Arthur Melo eventually arrived on loan as a stopgap option, but the Brazilian’s arrival has been a colossal flop.
Crisis at the center of the field
It goes without saying that Liverpool are currently mired in a quagmire, but the same could be said of the 2020/21 season. The Reds’ form had plummeted due to an injury crisis at center-back.
Klopp went into the January transfer window in search of a top-tier center-back to bolster Liverpool’s options. Initially, he stated that he had a falling out with club executives over the signing of a defender.
Klopp’s comments made it clear that he wanted FSG to fund a top-tier addition, but that was not to be. The Merseyside outfit eventually relented and received two stop-gaps, but they don’t really fit the definition of top-class.
The signing of Turkish defender Ozan Kabak on loan from Schalke was a mistake, and Ben Davies never made a senior appearance after joining from Preston. Despite that poor business, the Reds eventually pulled themselves together and finished third in the Premier League.
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